I am a boy scout and am almost an eagle scout, and I am starting to plan my eagle project. I want to renovate the two run off/storm water management ponds that both hold stable, healthy populations of Largemouth bass and bluegill. I was wondering if you guys could help me and give me some advice. Here is my plan right now:

Project description: The goal of this project is to improve the conditions of the ponds in the Olney Mill family park and create structure and plant flowers and trees around the ponds to enhance the appearance of the pond. The structure that will be planted for the fish and animals that inhabit the 2 ponds in the park and will provide them with better conditions to live in.

Who will benefit: The Olney mill residents will benefit from this project. The Maryland Department of natural resources will also benefit because they are the ones responsible and are the care takers for the pond. This will enhance the appeal of the pond also which will benefit both the home owners association and the Olney mill residents.

Present conditions of the ponds: At this time the fish that inhabit the pond have very little structure to occupy and inhabit. Right now the only sort of cover the fish have to inhabit is the aquatic grass that grows in the pond from late spring to late fall, but once winter arrives all the grass is gone and there is no structure for the fish. Around the pond the grass is over grown and there are no trees or bushes around the pond for the animals such as foxes, rabbits, and birds to inhabit.

Plans for the ponds: I plan to have artificial structure, such as artificial trees made from scrap PVC pipe that will provide a place for the populations of bass and bluegill to live, hide, and feed which will be built and constructed by myself and the people that volunteer for this project. I also plan on sinking an Artificial stump field for the fish in the pond to use and I also plan on constructing Artificial Christmas trees to place in one of the ponds, which will be constructed by scrap wood and lumber and scrap PVC pipe. I also plan on possibly sinking one to two evergreen trees in the deeper parts of the two ponds. I also plan on planting different types of non-invasive aquatic grasses in the two ponds at different deoths to suit the needs of the largemouth bass population.

Local Government Compliance Issues: There may be a need of getting a permit in order to place the Evergreen trees in the two ponds.

Materials needed:

6, 5 gallon plastic buckets.. $14.04 (Home Depot)

40 LB Sakrete Concrete Mix$4.28 (Ron's Home and Hardware)

JM Eagle Schedule 40, 3/4 in. x 10 ft. PVC Plain End..$40 (Home depot)

7 bricks, Oldcastle 7-3/4 in. x 2-1/4 in. x 3-3/4 in. Concrete Brick $2.87 (Home Depot)

Dead Evergreen trees Donations

5 spools of 20 pound Monofilament..Donations

Stimson Lumber Co 2 In. x 2 In. x 8 Ft. Furring Strip$5.28 (Home depot)

Rocks. Donations

Plate sized stonesDonations

Pea sized gravel.

Tools:

Jon boat (Any size) Donation

Hammers

Screw drivers

Screws

Shovels

Plants:

Hyacinths

Water celery

Wild rice

Eelgrass

Also, The pond was built in 1969 as a stormwater management pond. The biggest bass that I have caught during the 10 years I have fished the pond was a 3.25 pound Largemouth bass. There is a strong, very strong blue gill population, but I was thinking of adding a few pounds of fathead minnows, is this a good idea. I am applying for a grant from the Chesapeake bay trust to finance this eagle project. I want to create small rock piles in the deeper parts of the pond for the bass. The deepest part of the pond is up to 6 1/2 feet deep and has murky water. All the bass in the pond are in the 10 to 13 inches long. The pond was never actually "stocked" I was told by a neighbor that an old man used to catch bass from the potomac river and put them in the pond. My goals for the ponds are to:

(1). Expand the population of bass and have a healthy population of bass

(2). Grow bigger bass in this pond

(3.) Create a Diverse food chain for the bluegill and bass in this pond/

(4). Create structure for the bass to inhabit and feel safe in

I just sent an email to the Fisheries department at the Maryland DNR about someone coming out to the two ponds and doing a population study on the largemouth bass populations in the two ponds

There is a nice bluegill population in the pond. Also, I have attached some photos of the bass i have caught from the pond. The 3 pounder i caught from the one pond was caught during last June's ble gill spawn. The population of both bass and baitfish used to be stronger but a serious drought hit the pond in the summer of 2008

A few years ago, maybe 4 years ago it got so bad the whole pond was coverd with duckweed and all you could hear were the "popping" sounds of bluegill. It usually just surrounds the sides of the and thats where its the thickest

maybe part of project can be taking out the bluegill, I will talk to the Fisheries management officer that comes to do the population study how many bluegill I should take out and how many smaller bass I should take out. To my knowledge there are know crawfish in the pond. The ponds are a little less than an acre. I think the bluegill population is a little too big and there is not bass big enough in the pond to eat the larger, adult blue gill. The main grass in the pond is elodea, to my knowledge

My main goal is to have this pond produce largemouth bass that are 6 pounds plus in at least one of the two ponds, but I do think adding structure and more habitat and structure will help. There aren't many bass in this pond that are bigger than 18 inches, the 3 pounder I caught there was 18 inches, most of the bass are 14 inches or smaller

At this pond I have had 150 bluegill days

The 2 ponds are in a neighborhood park, a few people fish them with their kids, and many of my friends do to, but no one keeps any of the bass or bluegill to my knowledge, I was thinking of having a sign made and telling them about the project and suggest the catch and release concept to them, I have seen different adults take their younger kids fishing for bluegill at the ponds.

All I really want to do is to increase the size of the bass in the pond, whether they hit 6 pounds, i don't care. I think the problem is that the bass don't have the right sized food, they have food, but not the right sized food.

When I officially get the project approved by the board and get it started I will look into having signs put up around the pond.

I am also planning on making part of my project creating spawning cover for the bass by placing a number of plate sized stones and within the perimeter of those stones placing pea sized gravel for the bass to spawn.

Also, Would planting small rockpiles in the transition areas and in the deepest parts of the pond(S) help at all? May dad works on a Construction site and can probably get me some scrap wood and PVC pipe. Also, I had an idea of building aned putting together an artificial stump field made of scrap PVC pipe. The project has to last for at leas 2 saturdays, 9 hour days.

Right now the only reptiles that live in the ponds are a few snapping turtles and some water snakes. In terms of fish species there are catfish, Koi, bass, and bluegill. There are a few blue heron that visit the pond, there are also ducks and geese that come to the pond.

I am pretty sure that The bluegill that inhabit are both pure strain bluegill and pumpkinseed bluegill

You've typed out a very interesting post, and I'm sure that you will get some good replies.  From my first read, I've come up with the following:

Planting trees around the shoreline would also provide shade keeping water temps from getting too high.

An overpopulation of bluegills could lead to stunting.  You may want to look into planting a few catfish in each pond as an economical way to control those populations.

Perhaps you already have done this, but you should look at our BR sponsor Pond Boss for additional ideas.

http://www.pondboss.com/

Good luck on your project - Keep us updated!

I have also posted this on the Pond boss forum.

any other suggestions?

Now you're speaking my language. It's quite an accomplishment to earn your Eagle. It's one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

I've been on the adult side of Scouting for 16 years. I am currently the Troop Committee Chair for Troop 538 here in Augusta, Ga. My specialty is getting Life Scouts to Eagle. So I know the ropes.

First of all. Has it been approved yet?

If not then finish up the proposal and send it in for approval before you do anything else. You can always make small changes to it later.

Who's funding it? It always looks better if you raise the money for your project or go to businesses around the community and ask for donations.

Now as for growing big bass. In order to grow big bass you need to build a place where the entire food chain is doing well. You don't want to remove the bluegill. You want to create cover for the baby bluegill to hide and reach a size of at least three inches. That size will benefit a bass much more than a little fry. The best man-made cover I've ever seen used is upside down milk crates. Put 5 to 10 in one spot and have three or four spots around the lake where you put them. Make sure it's in 5 ft or less. This gives great cover to protect the babies from larger bass untill they can't get into the holes of the crate. Then they will have to find a new spot or get eaten.